CARIBOU — With the renovation/construction project for the new Women’s Imaging Center at Cary Medical Center scheduled to be completed this fall, the Jefferson Cary Foundation is wrapping up the largest internal capital fundraising campaign for the project in the hospital’s 88-year history.

Contributed photo
Officials with the Jefferson Cary Foundation recently completed the most successful internal capital fundraising campaign in Cary Medical Center history. With generous support from hospital employees and volunteers, and the Cary Medical Staff, Pines Health Services employees and members of the boards of directors, just over $152,000 was raised either with direct donations or through a payroll deduction plan for the hospital’s new Women’s Imaging Center. Pictured with Mary Harrigan, Executive Director of the Jefferson Cary Foundation, far left, and Dr. Shawn Laferriere, Chief of Radiology at Cary, are Campaign Team Captains, from left, Darlene Henderson; Michelle Deprey; Renee Cavagnaro; Tamra Kilcollins; Kim Wilcox; Wendy Prashaw; Betty Walker; Betty Hatch, member of the Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services Boards of Directors and the Jefferson Cary Estate; Lara Boudreau; Jane Moreau, and Kris Doody, RN, Cary CEO. Other Team Captains missing from the photo are: Ann King, Lisa Pucci, Trudy Wilcox, Sarah Anderson, Becky Bugbee, Lisa St.Peter, De’Angela Cyr, Ann Marie Davenport, Elise Marquis, Ann Gove, Robin Fortin, Ellen Harmon, and Kim Cousins. The construction/renovation project for the new Women’s Imaging Center, located in the hospital’s Radiology Department, is scheduled for completion this fall.
Over the past several months, just over $152,000 in donations has been received either directly or through a payroll deduction plan, far exceeding the internal campaign goal of $100,000. The generous support came from hospital employees, volunteers, and the Cary Medical Staff, Pines Health Services employees, as well as members of the boards of directors.
Officials with the Jefferson Cary Foundation hope to raise a total of $800,000 for the project with added support through a community capital fundraising effort already in progress.
The capital campaign was also kick-started last December with an initial $100,000 donation from the Cary Medical Center Auxiliary. The Auxiliary raises funds through hospital gift shop sales, proceeds from the Annual Walk for Care in October, and other fundraising efforts.
“We have had donations from every department of Cary and Pines, and the support speaks volumes as to the commitment of our employees to the hospital and this important project,” said Mary Harrigan, executive director of the Jefferson Cary Foundation. “Everyone has in some way been touched by breast cancer with family members, friends, or loved ones. We are so excited about the new Women’s Imaging Center, and what this means for women who can now gain local access to these advanced services right here at home.”
With the focus on patient comfort, convenience and privacy, Cary officials say that the new Women’s Imaging Center will provide a “spa” like private waiting area and individual changing rooms with personal lockable armoires. They added that the specialty trained mammography technologists will engage patients in a “navigation process” helping women through their procedures whether a routine screening mammogram or a diagnostic exam, making sure the patient has the best possible experience with support from her medical team.
According to Dr. Shawn Laferriere, Chief of Radiology at Cary Medical Center, the new Women’s Imaging Center will feature a state of the art, Mammomat Inspiration Full-Field Digital Mammography System and Stereotactic Breast Biopsy System. The Mammomat Inspiration offers digital screening and diagnostic mammography producing excellent image quality using industry leading technology designed to minimize the patient’s radiation dose and exposure time. There currently is no other unit of its kind north of Boston.
The Center will also feature the MammoTest digital stereotactic breast biopsy system, the first of its kind north of Bangor. This minimally invasive procedure allows for the extraction of identified breast tissue for biopsy with the patient in a more comfortable prone position, in many cases eliminating the need for a more invasive surgical procedure.
“With the addition of our new equipment, Cary Medical Center will be providing the most advanced breast diagnostic services in Northern Maine,” Laferriere added.
“We are so proud and humbled by the generosity and support of our Cary and Pines families for this project,” added Kris Doody, RN, MSB, Cary Chief Executive Officer. “Early detection of breast cancer with regular mammogram screenings is so critical for our patients. The time is now right for the hospital to raise the bar in making these advanced services available to them.”
For more information about the Women’s Imaging Center Fund Raising Campaign, contact Mary Harrigan at 493-4849 or e-mail jcf@carymed.org.